Trial of East Timor human rights cases delayed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The trial of suspects in the East Timor human
\nright violence cases will not begin within the next four months,
\nChief Justice Bagir Manan said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"We have problems in recruiting 30 judges who have excellent
\ncapability in both national and international law ... as we know,
\nmany of the human rights violation cases have much to do with
\ninternational law,\" Bagir said.<\/p>\n
He made the statement in a meeting with human rights activists
\nfrom Solidamor (Solidarity for East Timor) Bonar Tigor Naipospos
\nand Tri Agus Siswowihardjo. The activists were criticizing the
\nSupreme Court for being sluggish in the appointment of ad hoc
\njudges to try human rights violations, particularly in East
\nTimor, as stipulated in Law No. 26\/2000 on human rights
\ntribunals.<\/p>\n
The law stipulates that the Supreme Court can recruit ad hoc
\njudges from experts dealing with legal matters, such as human
\nrights activists, criminologists, or legal-sociological experts.<\/p>\n
The law also rules that only people within the age range 45-65
\nare eligible.<\/p>\n
Bagir also said that the selected judges had to undergo
\ncertain training, including an international legal education
\nabroad.<\/p>\n
\"Due to these phases in the recruitment process, I guess the
\nappointment of ad hoc judges to try East Timor violence cases --
\nand also the Tanjung Priok human rights violation case, will be
\ndelayed for four months,\" Bagir said.<\/p>\n
Bagir also complained about the lack of funds to run the
\nrecruitment process and establish the tribunal.<\/p>\n
The special joint investigation team examining the East Timor
\ndebacle completed its investigation two months ago. The dossier,
\nhowever, has yet to be handed over to the court, pending the
\nestablishment of the human rights tribunal.<\/p>\n
Former Udayana military commander for Bali, West and East Nusa
\nTenggara and the former East Timor, Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri, and
\nformer Wiradharma regional military commanders for the former
\nEast Timor Brig. Gen. Tono Suratman and Col. A. Noer Muis have
\nbeen named suspects in the case.<\/p>\n
Bagir further said the Supreme Court had formed a joint team
\ndrawn from the Supreme Court, Ministry of Justice and Human
\nRights, and the Attorney General's Office to establish the
\ntribunal. The team is expected to start working from next week.<\/p>\n
Bonar criticized the Supreme Court for buying time in order
\nthat people would forget the cases.<\/p>\n
\"The violence in East Timor has ruined our country's image
\nbefore the international world. Establishing the tribunal
\nimmediately is essential,\" Bonar said. (02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trial-of-east-timor-human-rights-cases-delayed-1447893297",
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